Signboard



Patented ll/llar. 2U, 1923.

UNITED STATES LMQMB PATIENT @FEFECE.

JOHN J SHOTWELL, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

SIGNB CARD.

Application filed October 26, 1920, Serial No. 419,665. Renewed August 1'7, 1922. Serial No. 582,534.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. SHorwnLL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Plainfield, county of Union, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signboards, of which the following is the specification.

The invention relates to improven'ients in sign boards, particularly as used in exposed places where they are distinctly sub jected to the action of wind and the principal object of the invention is to provide a sign suspension which will, under normal conditions, retain the sign in the vertical position but which is arranged to allow the sign to swing while restrained when the wind pressure becomes excessive.

A further object is while providing a suspension of the above kind to do away with the customary unsightly braces and sup ports utilized to reinforce the ordinary sign against wind pressure and at the same time allow of both sides of the sign board being used for display purposes.

lVith the above general objects in view the invention consists essentially in a pivotally suspended sign board, releasable means locking the lower edge of the sign against movement under normal wind conditions and a give and take anchoring connection attached to the lower edge of the sign, the parts being arranged and constructed as hereinafter more particularly described and later pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the ac companying drawing in which Fig. 1 represents a side View of a sign constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 represents a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view through the sign and looking towards the post, the section being taken in the plane denoted by the line XX Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: represents an enlarged detailed side view of one of the spring attachments.

Fig. 5 represents a sectional View through the spring attachment and looking directly at the spring.

Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detailed longitudinal sectional view through one of the locking catches.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

1 and 2 represent a pair of end supports such as posts which are suitably anchored in the ground, the posts in the present in stance being shown as made of cement with tapering bases 3 firmly imbedded in the ground. 4 represents a substantially rec tangular sign board inserted between the posts and suspended pivotally from the post by short end spindles 5 and 6.

Here it will be observed that the pivots are located towards'tl'ie upper edge of the sign so that the lower edge thereof hangs normally free and clear of the ground.

In order to hold the sign against swinging under normal conditions I have provided catches 7 and 8 engageable with the lower corners of the sign board and releasably fastening the sign board to the post.

These catches, in the present instance, are in the nature of outwardly spring pressed plungers 9 carried by the posts and having a limited outward movement under the action of their springs 10, the outward move ment being stopped by heads 11 formed on the ends of the plunger shanks 12 and adapted to engage with the ends of the sockets 13. The plungers 9 have their exposed ends rounded and are adapted in the locked or closed posit-ion of the catches to seat in receiving sockets 14- suitably mounted in the lower corners of thesign board.

In applying these catches it will be understood that they have to be fitted fairly accurately so that when the lower edge of the sign board swings the catches 9 will automatically spring into the sockets and arrest the swinging of the board and hold it in the upright position. v of the sign board and the bases 3 of the posts I locate give and take spring attachments 15 and 16 which are designed, upon the catches releasing, to allow the board to have a limited swing under the action of the wind and upon the wind falling to draw back the board and relock it in the vertical position.

The attachments 15 and 16 each comprise a bracket 17 in which I mount rotatably a cross shaft 18 provided with a drum 19 and a flexible connection such as a cable 20 attached to the drum and wound thereon. A coiled spring 21 is attached to the shaft and to the bracket and is arranged such that it is wound up upon the cable being pulled oft the drum and such that the cable is rewound on to the drum when it is released. The

Between the lower edge free end of the cable in each instance is 1 passed through guide rollers 22 and 23 secured to the bracket and is finally attached to an eye 24 secured to the base of the ..post in each case. A sign'o'f this kind operates in the following way The attachments 15 and 16 hold the sign normally in the vertical position in. which position it is normally locked by the catches. Under ordinary conditions where there is very little wind the catches serve to hold the sign in the vertical position. However, upon the wind increasing in intensity the wind pressure on the sign will cause the lower edge to swing back and release it'ron i the catches and during this time it is held under restraint by the cables and springs 21. By allowing the sign to swing in this way the windcan clear under the sign, which actionmate'rially reduces the wind pressure on the sign. Obviously the lowered'ge of the sign will swing further back thegreater the wind, so that the sign automatically adjusts itself to-the wind pressure and *there is no possibility of it being b1owdown. Upon the wind dropping the cables-draw back the lower edge of the sign anc' the catches lock itautomatic'ally in the upright position.

By'susp'ending a sign in this way I do not require the unsightlyfbra'ce's which are customarily used to hold the sign and am ther by dispensing with suchbr'aces I can use both sidesof the sign board foi-display purposes which is an important consideration.

lVliilst I have given a detailed description of the catches and the give and take attachments- -it will be readily understood that I do not wish to be *liinited to the 'pi'ecis econ structio'n shown as these could be readily changed without in *the least-departing "from the's'piriit of the inventionn hic'hz resides prlncipahy 1n, p votally suspendlng a sign board with the loweredge free and ithen providingmeans for anchoringthe lower edge of the sign while allowing it a re- 'thessupports and having the pivot points located towards the upper side of the board, releasable means normally locking the "board against swinging-and in the upright 308ltion, said means being designed to release theboard to swing under the action or" wind pressure 'and means connected to the board and designed to permit of a restrained swinging ofthe board under the action of the wind and to reset the board upon the wind pressure being relieved.

2. The combination with end supports, ofa sign boardpivotally suspended from the supports and with the pivots located towards the upper side of the board, releasable locking catches 'engageable with the lower side of the board and normally locking the lower side of the board against swinging and spring controlled anchoring cables attaehed to the lower side of theboard.

3. The combiiiation with end supports,-ot a sign board p'ivotally suspended from the supports and with the pivots located towards the upper side ofthe boardpreleasable locking catches engageable 'with the lower side of the board andnormally locking the lower side of the'board against swinging, winding drums mounted on the lower side of the board, springs associated with" the drums and anchoring cablesfiwound on the drums. f

Signed a-t-"Plainfield in the' countfy-"of Union and State of New Jersey, tliis 21st day of Oct.-, 1920.

JOHN J; SHOTWELL- [a s lVitnessed by v HARVEY 'Ro'THBEiiG. 

